The East Walker River in California and has become synonymous with behemoth brown trout.
Running alongside Highway 182 from Bridgeport to the Nevada State line, fly fishing the East Walker River is one of the most beautiful opportunities the Golden State has to over.
And it’s even more beautiful when it’s churning out 18-inch fish – there’s a reason there’s an 18-inch minimum limit on the California side of the East Walker.
Fly Fishing Guide Advice on East Walker River
“The East Walker River affords the best opportunity for anglers in the Eastern Sierra to catch a brown trout of a lifetime on moving water,” says Kent Rianda, owner of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes (760-934-2517, www.thetroutfly.com.
Rianda’s favorite stretch to fish is the “Miracle Mile,” the first mile of water below the dam on Bridgeport Reservoir. He’s also a fan of The Rosachi Ranch, located farther downstream after crossing into Nevada because of the “excellent fishing and lower crowds.”
While this East Walker provides some fertile stretches of water, it also presents some of the most challenging sections. Famed “Big Hole,” where Bridgeport Reservoir dumps into the channel, is stocked full of monster fish but is also one of the most difficult stretches to navigate in the state.
Fly Fishing Patterns for the East Walker River
In terms of flies, Rianda and his top two guides (Scott Flint and Brad McFall) stress that stretches like “Big Hole” make the East Walker an extremely technical river that “demands adaptability in fly selection, from No. 22 zebra midges to No. 8 Stone Fly dries.”
Some popular hatches on the East Walker include golden stoneflies during the early runoff in March or April and mayflies into the summer months. Caddis can come off in droves in the summer.
Nymphing on the East Walker River
In terms of nymphing, Rianda says if you’re “not losing flies you are not plying the water where the bigger fish are.”
He also notes that fishing for browns during the first and last hour of legal fishing, when the sun is off the water, can produce the trophy brown of a lifetime as the biggest browns are notorious nocturnal predators.
While the East Walker is known for its big brown trout, the river also has plenty of rainbow trout and mountain whitefish if you’re looking for some variety.
East Walker River Fly Fishing Regulations for California and Nevada
The California stretch of the East Walker is open to fishing during the general trout season from the last Saturday in April to Nov. 15. Only barbless flies may be used.
On the Nevada side, the river is open year round. Catch-and-release regulations and barbless flies are the rule in Nevada as well.
In Nevada, the stoneflies make for some stellar streamer fishing. Try a large woolly bugger, Muddler Minnow or a zonker on a sink-tip lines, and hold on and enjoy the ride.
Other Fly Fishing Opportunities Near the East Walker River
The East Walker River is known mostly for its five main sections, including "Big Hole," Murphy's Slough, Sceroni Ranch, Rosaschi Ranch and "The Elbow."
Beyond that, there are plenty of fly fishing opportunities nearby, particularly around Bridgeport Reservoir, which can be fun for float tubing and stalking wild trout in its feeder streams. Twin Lakes, Roinson Creek and Buckeye Creek are also within casting distance of the reservoir.
More Information on California Trout
Looking for more on the various species of trout that can be found in California? Be sure to read our popular piece on the most popular species of trout.
